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Shell, Qatar, to Build $6.4 Billion Petrochem Plant

State-owned Qatar Petroleum and Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell signed on Dec. 4 an agreement to build a petrochemical complex in the energy-rich Gulf state valued at $6.4 billion.

Qatari energy minister Mohammed al-Sada and Peter Voser, chief executive officer of Shell signed the agreement that "sets the scope and commercial principles for the development of a world-scale petrochemicals complex in Ras Laffan Industrial City," a joint statement said.

This agreement follows the conclusion of a joint feasibility study conducted by the two sides, it said, pointing out that Qatar Petroleum will hold an 80% equity interest in the project and Shell 20%.

The scope under consideration includes a world-scale steam cracker, with feedstock coming from natural gas projects in Qatar, in addition to a mono-ethylene glycol plant of up to 1.5 million tons per annum, 300 kilotons per annum of linear alpha olefins, and another olefin derivative.

It said the "cost-competitive petrochemicals products" will be marketed primarily into Asian growth markets.

Qatar Petroleum and Shell have delivered Pearl Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) and Qatargas 4 this year, which are two of the worlds largest projects built in Ras Laffan Industrial City, the statement said.

The small emirate, which holds the world's third-largest gas reserves, last year celebrated raising its production capacity for liquefied natural gas to 77 million tons annually, enforcing its position as the world's largest producer.